Getting ready for snow this year? Tyres....

Flying-High_2

Lum wrote: »

If you're using chains while driving on a surface where the snow is so thin that the chains are hitting the road surface, you are doing it wrong.

And stupid and shouldn't be out in the snow on the roads anyway...

mikey72

I think the only problem with autosocks I read was that they shredded easily on anything left in the road, or on tarmac, as they are a textile, and fairly delicate.
I've used chains before, they're no good on british roads as main roads are down to tarmac quite quickly normally, while the sideroads are ice/snow, and they're just not useable on tarmac.
I've just switched to winter tyres, Nokian WR G2's, they seem to get good reviews, they're Finnish, so hopefully they can make a good winter tyre if anyone can.

mikey72

Lum wrote: »

Winter Tyres are a softer compound designed to perform best on roads at lower temperatures (typically temperatures below 7 degrees). Snow tyres are designed for use on snow.

I hope tyre chains are legal in this country as I've just bought a set

Snow tyre are just another name for winter tyres. They all perform on snow, ice, or slush.

If you live in the middle of nowhere and have a long drive up (or down) a mountain, chains are good, but you really need ice under them, or heavy compacted snow. You'll need to take them of at the main road though, as the chains wear quickly and eat your tyres as well.

esmerobbo

HannahIOW wrote: »

Maybe I'm just having a blonde moment here... but how are you supposed to get the autosocks completely over the wheel? You would need to jack the car up, surely?

You put the top on drive forward or reverse then put the rest on!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TemOZoVd2Y&NR=1

flyingscotno1

mikey72 wrote: »

Snow tyre are just another name for winter tyres. They all perform on snow, ice, or slush.

Bought a set of All-seasons to replace my current tyres which are worn. The current tyres were gash last year- all they had were the big circular grooves which are excellent for water and dry weather- mince in snow!

mikey72

flyingscotno1 wrote: »

Bought a set of All-seasons to replace my current tyres which are worn. The current tyres were gash last year- all they had were the big circular grooves which are excellent for water and dry weather- mince in snow!

I looked at that originally, Vredestein Quatrac 3's, but went for the winter tyres as I had a set of rims, and the front were worn out anyway. Does mean I need another pair of summer tyres in spring though.

HannahIOW

esmerobbo wrote: »

You put the top on drive forward or reverse then put the rest on!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TemOZoVd2Y&NR=1

Thanks! I did wonder if that was the way

pigeonpie

we were talked out of buying and fitting winter tyres by a mate who has worked in the car trade all his working life, as in the UK we don't drive in snow all winter long, unlike in Scandinavia where they are fitted and taken off and changed in the spring. They don't last as long as general use tyres. We were just told to fit a new front pair of a decent quality which should be perfectly safe if carefully driven in wintry conditions. I suppose it depends on where you live and how much snow there's likely to be.

Lum

Flying-High wrote: »

And stupid and shouldn't be out in the snow on the roads anyway...

Most of the problems on the [strike]snow covered[/strike] roads could be solved if we could just ban all the stupid people who don't know how to drive [strike]in snowy conditions[/strike].

Strider590

pigeonpie wrote: »

we were talked out of buying and fitting winter tyres by a mate who has worked in the car trade all his working life, as in the UK we don't drive in snow all winter long, unlike in Scandinavia where they are fitted and taken off and changed in the spring. They don't last as long as general use tyres. We were just told to fit a new front pair of a decent quality which should be perfectly safe if carefully driven in wintry conditions. I suppose it depends on where you live and how much snow there's likely to be.

The trouble is, until word gets around everyone will keep on saying that winter tyre's are not worth it. Us brits are too lazy and too tight to try them.
We'd happily ride around on rock hard tyre's with zero grip, if they cost £25 and lasted 2 million miles.

I tried to get a set and basically because there's very little demand, nobody could make a profit in selling them to me and therefore didn't want to know. Tyre retailers buy in bulk, buying in small quantities just doesn't make them any money.